The Tepa circuit court has convicted 30-year-old Hamza Mohammed, who raped several women at Tepa, to 20 years imprisonment.

Mohammed, who was also known to be stealing livestock, was also asked by the court to pay a fine of GH¢ 600 for stealing a goat and in default, he will serve another one year in prison.

He pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Police Inspector Andrews Asiedu-Banafo told the Court presided over by Mr. Justice Osei Kwame that the convict had terrorized women in the town by raping them either on their way to their farms or on their farms.

He said that prevented women from going to farm without company.

Inspector Asiedu-Banafo said on September 2, 2009, the convict met a 36-year-old woman from her farm at Nfrante near Subrisu and sexually assaulted her.

The woman was carrying a basket full of foodstuff and Mohammed emerged from a bush behind her, held her neck and dragged her into the push where he raped her at knife point.

Mohammed went into hiding and tried escaping to Kumasi in a bus whose mate suspected him to have stolen a sheep he was travelling with and caused his arrest.

PF